Truckee man critically injured in Hwy 49 motorcycle wreck

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A Truckee resident was recovering Thursday after a motorcycle wreck sent him tumbling down an embankment along Highway 49 heading out of Nevada County.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, Robert Affeldt, 55, was riding his 2003 BMW motorcycle northbound on Highway 49 in Sierra County, near Goodyear Creek Road, according to the California Highway Patrol. For an undetermined reason, Affeldt lost control of his motorcycle and went off the roadway.

CHP determined that Affeldt struck a metal pole, several trees, was ejected off of the motorcycle and tumbled down an embankment.

Emergency personnel responded to the scene to assist. Affeldt received major injuries, including trauma to the chest and multiple leg and arm fractures and was transported by helicopter air ambulance to Enloe Medical Center in Chico, where he was in serious condition Wednesday.

By Thursday, his condition had been upgraded to serious, according to a nursing supervisor at the hospital reached by phone.

CHP is handling the investigation and its report indicated that drugs and alcohol are not suspected to be a contributing factor in the accident. In the midst of a week-long heat wave, weather conditions were listed as clear, dry, warm and calm at the time of the wreck.

Highway 49 was partially blocked by emergency equipment for approximately 45 minutes.